Department for Education & Skills Rosemarie Mears Workforce Development Manager Jill Davies

1. A Seamless Journey – Working in Collaboration with Workforce Development Advisors Department for Education & Skills Rosemarie Mears Workforce Development Manager Jill Davies Workforce Development Advisor

2. Workforce Development Programme • Aim of the programme • To support the growth of the Welsh economy • To support Welsh Government priorities for skills and economic development • To ensure high quality information advice and guidance to employers

3. Workforce Development Programme Services and Support Available Investors in People Skills Growth Wales General Discretionary Leadership & Management Jobs Growth Wales ReAcT II Essential Skills Apprenticeships EU Funded Initiatives FE/HE Provision Sector Skills Initiatives

4. Business Skills Hotline • Central Point of Contact for Employers providing information, advice and guidance regarding skills and training: • Welsh Government support options • Funding availability • Provider information • Access to Workforce Development Programme • Delivery of WDP Direct aimed at micro-businesses • Business Skills Hotline Number 0845 60 661 60 • Email businessskillshotline@wales.gsi.gov.uk

5. Business Skills Team 2012-13 Enquiries

6. WorkforceDevelopmentAdvisors - Role • Who are we? • Operate under contract to DfES • Recruited through open tender exercise • From a variety of HR, Training and Business backgrounds • 57 advisors currently working with 1135 organisations

7. Workforce Development Advisors - Role • Who do we work with? • Anchor Companies • Regionally Important Companies • Priority Sectors • Inward Investors • Companies with credible growth plans • Companies with 10 employees or more • Predominately trading Business to Business

8. Workforce Development Advisors - Role • What do we do? • Work on a “one to one” basis with employers. • Providein-depthadvice, guidance and information regarding skills and training over a 12 month period • Provide constructive challenge and critique • Strategic Workforce Development Diagnostic

9. Workforce Development Advisors - Role • What do we do? • Skills Development Plan • Consider all options • DfES services and programmes e.g. IiP, L&M, Skills Growth Wales, Apprenticeships, Jobs Growth Wales, ReAcT • HE & FE provision • Sector specific programmes • ESF provision e.g. Skills4Industry, Elevate • General Discretionary Funding • Review Training provider options, ensuring quality & Value for money • Act as an “honest broker” at all times

10. 2012-13 Workforce Development Advisor Apprenticeship Referrals

11. Workforce Development Advisors - Role • What do we do? • Plan implementation and provide on going advice and support • Evaluate the impact on business performance • Plan the next steps

12. Investors In People • A Standard and framework which brings:- • - Improved service delivery and business performance • - Help with organisational change • - Improved employee involvement and performance • - Business development and growth • - Return on investment through increased efficiency and profitability. • Free advice and guidance to help employers work with the Standard • 50% subsidy towards the costs of the Assessment

13. Activity • Our aim is work collaboratively • to support the needs of Welsh employers • In your groups please discuss the following • What actions could be taken by WD Advisors and WBL Providers to support each other to achieve this aim?

14. Any Questions?

15. Thank you